“Rollin’ down the street, smokin’ indo …” Some may know these lyrics from California rapper Snoop Dogg’s 1993 “Gin and Juice.” Almost 20 years have passed since this song was on regular rotation at radio stations. But while styles and sounds may have changed, some things have not.
Songs dealing with drug use, violence and partying are alive and well in the younger rap generation. Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa, aka Cameron Jibril Thomaz, is one of those artists keeping the party scene alive in his music.
With the release of his fourth studio album “O.N.I.F.C.” (Only Ni**a In First Class) on Dec. 4, 2012, the 25-year-old rapper proves that rap can be as dominant as it was in the ’90s and it doesn’t necessarily have to be West Coast rap.
Debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, and selling 148,000 copies in its first week, “O.N.I.F.C.” was a force to be reckoned with.
Throughout December, you couldn’t turn the radio on without hearing Khalifa’s “Work Hard, Play Hard.”
With it’s catchy chorus and Khalifa’s machine-gun type flow, “Work Hard, Play Hard” is an irresistible jam that is likely to get stuck in just about anyone’s head.
Just like Snoop Dogg, Khalifa proves to the masses that he is a huge advocate of marijuana. His preference is no more evident than in the song, “Mary 3x.”
With lyrics like, “say they be smoking, they be acting, cause you ain’t yet really smoked unless you smoked one with the captain,” it’s not hard to figure out which side of the fence Khalifa is on when it comes to the legalization of the drug. With marijuana legalization in parts of the U.S. having just come to fruition, “Mary 3x” may very well become an anthem for potheads across the nation — if it hasn’t already.
“O.N.I.F.C.” in all aspects leaves no room for disappointment. With an array of music tempos, addicting beats and well-known guest artists such as Akon and 2 Chainz, Khalifa leaves you like a junkie for his music, jonesing for the next hit.
Due to subject content, “O.N.I.F.C.” may not be suitable for all listeners, but is nonetheless a solid effort from the young rapper.

Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa’s fourth album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 148,000 copies in the first week.